Sean Bonniwell R.I.P.

Thomas Harvey "Sean" Bonniwell (August 16, 1940 – December 20, 2011) vocalist of early garage rock band the Music Machine, has died after battling lung cancer. He was 71. According to the Los Angeles Times the vocalist died on Dec. 20 at a Visalia, Calif. medical center.

Sean Bonniwell was the singer/songwriter and chief visionary of the Music Machine, one of the finest garage-psychedelic bands of the 1960s. The Music Machine's achievements and records are described more fully in their own entry. In brief, though, it can be noted that Bonniwell was by far the most important member of that group, penning their torturous but catchy, riff-driven songs of psychological ecstasy and confusion, even if just one of them ("Talk Talk") became a hit. Bonniwell was also their lead singer, usually using a gripping, throaty tone that could reach a hair-raising intensity, though occasionally he could switch into a surprisingly smooth if moody croon. The original Music Machine lineup broke up as they were getting their second album together, and much of the second album and some of their final singles are primarily the work of Bonniwell, with assistance from some other musicians.

Sean Bonniwell Interview by psychedelic baby here